Reciprocating blade systeme for knives, enabling higher cutting efficiency without pulling on the object to be cut

ABSTRACT

Reciprocating blade system for knives, employed in order to achieve a highly effective cutting action without dragging upon the object to be cut. The invention concerns a reciprocating blade system for knives characterized by a blade with curved or arc-shaped cutting edge capable of oscillating or swinging relative to the support whereto it is fixed by any means enabling said movement such that the cutting edge can operate a reciprocating rolling movement on the object to be cut when the handle is pushed backwards and forwards in the manner of a standard knife.  
     In the embodiment represented in FIG.  1,  the blade ( 1 ) has an arc-shaped cutting edge ( 5 ) and is fixed to a support rod ( 3 ) extended by a handle ( 4 ), through a pin ( 2 ) which enables its oscillation along the arrows ( 7 ) and ( 7   bis ).  
     Thus, by setting the curved surface ( 5 ) of the blade ( 1 ) which forms the cutting edge and by pressing it on the object to be cut, a reciprocating movement imparted to the handle ( 4 ) along the arrows ( 8 ) and ( 8   bis ) as with any knife, is sufficient for causing the curved and cutting part ( 5 ) of the blade ( 1 ) to roll above it in one direction then in the other along the arrows ( 7 ) and ( 7   bis ) and cut with higher efficiency and without pulling the object to be cut. The blade ( 1 ) comprises a stop ( 6 ), which will brake its reciprocating movement at each stroke end in both directions, so that the cutting edge ( 5 ) always remains in contact with the object to be cut and prevent the blade ( 1 ) from partly or completely overturning.

Reciprocating blade system for knives, employed in order to achieve ahighly effective cutting action without dragging upon the object to becut.

This present invention concerns a reciprocating blade system for knives,with curved or arc-shaped cutting edge, allowing high cutting efficiencyto be achieved without dragging on the object to be cut, and requiringthe user only to execute the same to-and-fro movement as for aconventional knife. It differs from blades which are circular, or whichvary in circumference, of different shapes, rotating about an axis, inthat it is similar to conventional blades but is characterised by acurved or arc-shaped cutting edge which has the ability to oscillate orto swing in relation to the support to which it is attached by any meanswhich allows it to move in this way, so that the cutting edge is able toexecute a to-and-fro movement on the object to be cut when the handle ismoved from front to rear as for any knife. In the method ofimplementation illustrated in FIG. 1, the blade (1) has a cutting edge(5) in the form of a circular arc, and is attached to a support rod (3)extended by a handle (4), by an pin (2) which allows it to oscillatealong arrows (7) and (7 bis). The blade (1) includes a stop (6), whicharrests its to-and-fro movement at the limit of each direction, whenthis stop comes up against parts (3 bis) and (3 ter) of the rod (3)(FIGS. 2 and 3), so that the cutting edge (5) still remains in contactwith the object to be cut, and prevents the blade (1) from over-rotatingeither partially or completely. This stop can take various forms, beingof concave shape in this case, which is opposite to the convex shape ofthe support rod (3) at this point, this having the advantage ofsoftening the contact with parts (3 bis) and (3 ter) of the support rod.It can also be composed of a spring or of a soft material such asplastic or rubber. In the method of implementation illustrated in FIG.4, amongst other possible means of attachment, the blade (1) is attachedto the support rod (3) by a swivel (2 bis) which also allows it tooscillate along arrows (7) and (7 bis). This swivel may be an integralpart of the support rod (3) as in FIG. 4, and act as a hinge in theblade (1), or can be an integral part of the blade (1), and act as ahinge in the support rod (3). In this event, there is no need to equipthe blade (1) with a stop, since the to-and-fro movement will be stoppedwhen the extremities (9) and (9 bis) of the blade (1) come into contactwith parts (10) and (10 bis) of the rod (3). In the method ofimplementation illustrated in FIG. 5, amongst other possible means ofattachment, the blade (1) is attached to the support rod (3) by a spring(2 ter) which also allows it to oscillate along arrows (7) and (7 bis).This spring (2 ter) can be located in the extension of the support rod(3) as in figure or on the side of this support rod as in FIG. 6. Otherarrangements of this spring are also possible. In all these cases, thecutting edge (5) of the blade (1), can be smooth, toothed ormicro-toothed. Thus, by positioning the curved side (5) of the blade (1)which forms the cutting edge, and pressing it onto the object to be cut,one only has to execute a to-and-fro movement of the handle (4) alongarrows (8) and (8 bis), as with any other knife, so that the curvedcutting-edge part (5) of the blade (1) rolls along it, in one directionand then the other, along arrows (7) and (7 bis), cutting in a highlyeffective manner and without dragging on the object one wishes to cut.The forward movement is detailed in FIG. 2, and the reverse movement inFIG. 3. By slightly displacing the pin (2) to the left of the arcforming the blade (1), the length of the cut is increased when thehandle is drawn backwards and vice versa. The shape of the handle, andthe system for fitting it, can be varied and in different materialswithout affecting the operation of the system. The support rod (3) andthe handle (4), can also be manufactured as a single part. The blade (1)can be made from various materials such as steels, ceramics, etc. thatare normally used for cutting-blades. However, given the efficiency ofthe system, it can also be made from plastic, especially whenmanufacturing inexpensive or disposable knives. The knives or toolsequipped in this way are particularly effective and practical in allcases where one has to avoid dragging or disarranging the object to becut. They make excellent individual table knives, especially for cuttingfoods in which hard parts alternate with parts that are soft or break upeasily, such as pizzas, quiches, pies, etc.

1) Reciprocating blade system for knife, allowing high cuttingefficiency to be achieved without dragging on the object to be cut,characterised by a blade with curved or arc-shaped cutting edge, able tooscillate or swing in relation to the support to which it is attached byany means which allows it to move in this way, so that the cutting edgeis able to execute a to-and-fro movement on the object to be cut whenthe handle is moved from front to rear as for any knife, thusapproaching the design of conventional blades and differing from bladeswhich are circular or which vary in circumference and of differentshapes rotating about an pin, while still having the advantages of thelatter and avoiding their drawbacks. 2) Reciprocating blade system forknife, characterised in that the blade (1) with curved or arc-shapedcutting edge (5), is attached to a support (3) extended by a handle (4),amongst other possible means of attachment, by an pin (2) which allowsit to oscillate or swing in relation to this support, so that thiscutting edge executes a to-and-fro rolling motion along arrows (7) and(7 bis) ( FIGS. 2 and 3) on the object to be cut, when the handle ismoved from front to rear as when cutting with any other knife (FIGS. 1,2and 3). 3) Knife according to either of the previous claims,characterised in that the blade (1), includes a stop (6), which arrestsits to-and-fro movement at the limit of each direction, when this stopcomes up against parts (3 bis) and (3 ter) of the rod (3) (FIGS. 2 and3), so that the cutting edge (5) still remains in contact with theobject to be cut, and prevents the blade (1) from over-rotating eitherpartially or completely. 4) Knife according to claim 4, characterised inthat the stop (6) can take various forms, and in particular the concaveshape as described in FIGS. 2 and 3, which is opposite to the convexshape taken by the support rod (3) at this point, and having theadvantage of softening the contact with parts (3 bis) and (3 ter) of thesupport rod. 5) Knife according to claims 4 and 5, characterised in thatthe stop (6) can also be composed of a spring or of a soft material suchas plastic or rubber. 6) Knife according to any of the previous claimscharacterised in that the length of cut is increased when moving thehandle to the rear by slightly displacing the pin (2) to the left of thearc formed by the blade, and vice versa. 7) Knife according to any ofthe previous claims, characterised in that, amongst other possible meansof attachment, the blade (1) is attached to the support rod (3) by aswivel (2 bis) which also allows it to oscillate along arrows (7) and (7bis) (FIG. 4). This swivel can be an integral part of the support rod(3) as in FIG. 4, and act as a hinge in the blade (1), or can form anintegral part of the blade (1) and act as a hinge in the support rod(3). In this event, the extremities (9) and (9 bis) of the blade (1) actas an end-stop, since the to-and-fro movement will be stopped when theycome into contact with parts (10) and (10 bis) of the rod (3). 8) Knifeaccording to any of the previous claims, characterised in that, amongstother possible means of attachment, the blade (1) is attached to thesupport rod (3) by a spring (2 ter) in the extension of the support rod,which also allows it to oscillate along arrows (7) and (7 bis) (FIG. 5).9) Knife according to claim 10, characterised in that the spring (2 ter)can be located on the side of this support rod, as shown in FIG. 6, orfitted in other ways. 10) Knife according to any of the previous claims,characterised in that the cutting edge (5) of the blade (1) can besmooth, toothed or micro-toothed. 11) Knife according to any of theprevious claims, characterised in that the shape of the handle, and thesystem for fitting it, can be varied and in different materials withoutaffecting the operation of the system. The support rod (3) and thehandle (4), can also be manufactured in a single piece. 12) Knifeaccording to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the blade(1) can be made from various materials such as steels, ceramics, etc.,that are normally used for cutting blades. 13) Knife according to any ofthe previous claims, characterised in that the blade (1) can also bemade from plastic materials, especially when manufacturing inexpensiveand disposable knives. 14) Knife according to any of the previousclaims, characterised in that, amongst other uses, it can be employed attable as an individual knife for the cutting of foods such as, pizza,pies, etc. in particular.